Flexible top for salt-cellars.



PATENTED MAY 28, 1907 F. BARTLETT. FLEXIBLE TOP FOR SALT GELILARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15,1906.

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INVENTOR.

" WITNESSES:

A TTOR/Vli Y5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' FRED BARTLETT, or OHATHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FLEXIBLE TOP FOR sAL'r-cELLARs.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented May 28, 1907.

Applioati on filed September 16, 1906. Serial No. 384,717.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRED BAaTLETT, a subectof the King of England, residing at Chatam,'in the Province of Ontarioand Do-' formed of flexible material and can be readily manipulated todetach any salt or other powdered material which'may stick thereto or010 the perforations thereof. Wit the foregoing, and other objects inview, which will appear as the description roceeds, the inventionresides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and'in the detailsof. construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understoodthat changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed maybe made within the scope of the followin claims without departin fromthespirit 0 the invention or sacrificmg any of its advantages.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification :-Figure1 is a vertical section throu h a salt cellar constructed in accordancewit the invention. Figs. '2,

. '3 and 4 illustrate modified constructions.

in the different generally prefer to construct the body portion A ofglass, china, or the'like, still, in some instances, I may form only theneck portion 1 of glass or other inflexible material, the body ortion 2in such cases bein formed of rub er or other flexible materia secured inany sui a le manner to the inflexible neck 1. Whenever the salt or othermaterial becomes caked the flexible portion 2 of the receptacle A can besqueezed or com-v pressed to break the salt.

The essence of my 1nvent1on resldes 1n the up the lump formation of useof a top or cover B which is constructed of flexible material such forexample as rubber. The upper end 3 of the flexible cover B is formedwith the perforations 4 through which the salt is discharged when theshaker is, prpiperly manipulated. The top B is forme with a flexibledepending annular flange 5 adapted to fit around the upper end of thebody portion A.

In order to cause the cover B to be per-- manently secured in positionupon receptacle A, I interpose suitable gripping means between the topor cover and the receptacle. The gripping means illustrated in Fig. 1consists of an integral rubber bead 6 which is formed on the interior ofthe depending flange 5 and is adapted to fit into the semicirculargroove 7 formed in the neck portion of the receptacle A. It will beapparent that the cover B can be readily removed or replaced by drawingthe bead 6 out of the groove 7 or by inserting the same therein, the uper edge-of the receptacle neck being beveled as shown at 8 so as tofacilitate the operation of inserting the cover, it bein understood thatthe lower edge of the bea or flange 5 will engage the beveled portion 8and slide outward thereon when the cover is pushed down, whereby theflange 5 will be extended so as to permit the bead 6 to slip into thegroove 7. The groove 7 preferably is wider than the bead 6 soas toprovide an annular space 9 inwhich the finger or an instrument maybefitted in .the act of withdrawing the cover. The u per portion of thecover B is domed slighiiiy as shown, so that when the cover is in lacethe periphery of the domed portion of th the beveled edge 8 at the upperend of the neck 1 as shown. I

From the foregoin it will be ap arent that by constructing t e entirecover 0 flexible material, I am enabled to provide the e cover restsupon "as described. Whenever theperforations 4 become clogged with salt,it is only necessary to tap the exible cover with the finger so as topress the same downward and thus expel the salt. v

In the modified construction illustrated in F g. 3, the neck 1 of thereceptacle A is rov1 ed with a supplemental ring 10 w 'ch preferably isscrewed on the ordinary threads 11 at the neck of the receptacle A, thering 10 being formed with an annular groove 12 which is engaged by thebead 6 of the annular structed for use with a metallic cover, it

being only necessary to remove the metallic cover and replace the sameby the ring 10, after which a flexible cover can be used. In thisconstruction the flexible cover can be removed in two ways if desired:first, by drawing it off the annular ring 10; and second, by permittingit to remain in the annular ring 10 and rotating it so that the coverand ring 10 are screwed oil the receptacle A. Ordinarily, however, thering 10 will remain permanently upon the receptacle A, and merely theflexible cover B will be removed, it being observed that the upper end16 of the ring 10 is beveled so as to facilitate application of theflexible cover.

In Fig. 2, the ring 10 is dispensed with as well as the bead 12, and thegripping means interposed between the flexible cover and the receptacleconsists merely of the usual threads 18 which are gripped firmly by theexpansible flange 5 so as to hold the cover in position.

In Fig. 4 the cover is formed with a domed portion which is much deeperthan that shown in the other figures of the drawing, so

that the same can be more easily squeezed or manipulated to free thesame from salt.

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to form the body portionof a salt cellar of rubber or flexible material, but in this form ofsalt cellar the neck ortion was formed of inflexible material amI ametallic cover was used, so that the disadvantage of having'theperforations of the metallic cover become corroded or clogged with saltwas not avoided by the use of a flexible body portion. 1

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is A cover forreceptacles intended to contain powdered material molded integrally ofsoft rubber and havin a perforated top which may be distorted by slightpressure to open the perforations when clogged, and a downwardlyextending flange provided internally with projecting fastening means.

2. A cover for rece tacles intended to contain powdered material, moldedintegrally of soft rubber and having a perforated dome shaped topcapable of distortion by slight I pressure to remove any cloggingmaterial in said perforations, and a downwardly extending flangeprovided on its inner side with attaching means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses:

FRED BARTLETT Witnesses MILTON PIKE, NA-I LABIN.

